From sushi and champagne nail bars in Regent Street to beds and breads in Bath Road, there is so much to celebrate in Cheltenham when it comes to independent shops.

Each week throughout the summer we will look at all the independent traders, restaurants and businesses in Cheltenham, street by street in our new campaign, Meet the Independents.

With big name brands like Pret and Wagamama opening in the town, it is important to recognise the strength of the independents and celebrate the diverse range of offerings in Cheltenham.

Meet the Independents will explore Cheltenham to look at what the town has to offer and show shoppers and visitors to the town that when it comes to unique boutiques and quirky cafes it is hard to beat.

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One of those throwing his weight behind the campaign is Kevan Blackadder, director of Cheltenham Business Improvement District.

He said: “The reality is Cheltenham has always had a good mix of national brands and independents but they feed off each other.

“Some people come to the town because they want to shop the brands on the Prom but they stumble across places like Regent Street and discover what there is there.

“There are places like Montpellier which are fantastic to shopping but some people go straight through and don’t realise it is there. Then we have the other side of High Street, places like Winchcombe Street and Pittville where they offer a different type of service, with cafes and butchers and dry cleaners.”

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Cheltenham Mayor Klara Sudbury said it was vital to support the traders in town.

She said: “It’s a fantastic idea because it is a tough market out there. Big names coming in does show confidence and investment but while I will pop into Pret I’m not going to stop going to places like Coffee Dispensary and Brew and Bake.

“There are some amazing things going on in Winchcombe Street with new shops and the Axiom development. There’s quite a lot of footfall there, it’s just about encouraging people to go into those shops.

“People should go to our independents, if they put their money into local businesses it will stay in the local area and be reinvested back into the area, with big companies the profits just don’t stay here.”

GV of Cheltenham High Street.

Chef and star of Masterchef the Professionals Wayne Sullivan is passionate about supporting independent traders, whether it is suppliers or the cafes themselves.

Wayne, who is holding three pop-up restaurant events across Cheltenham this summer said: “Independent traders and suppliers are important for keeping money generated in the local area in the local area. I’m happier to spend £10 on something to support a local independent coffee shop knowing that it is rewarding and acknowledging a trader’s hard work and sacrifice rather than a suit in an office far away from the town.”